SAN LUIS OBISPO – The Cal Poly softball team loaded the bases against Big West Conference-leading UC Davis and lefthanded reliever Alex Holmes with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning during the opening game of a Saturday doubleheader, but but senior first baseman Krysten Cary grounded into a game-ending double play as the Mustangs dropped a 4-3 decision. Cal Poly also fell during game No. 2, 4-3, after mustering just two hits during the initial five innings.

The pair of losses all but eliminated Cal Poly’s chances to repeat as Big West champions. Entering Sunday’s 12 noon series finale against UC Davis, third-place Cal Poly (21-22, 10-7) sits three games behind the Aggies (24-25, 13-4) and two behind Cal State Northridge (28-21, 12-5) in the Big West standings. Should any programs finish with level records atop the Big West standings, UC Davis holds the tiebreaker advantage against both Cal State Northridge and Cal Poly for the conference’s automatic NCAA Tournament invitation. Additionally, Cal State Northridge holds the tiebreaker against Cal Poly.

After yielding two hits during the first inning of Saturday’s opening game, UC Davis starting righthander Dana Waldusky (10-13) retired 13-consecutive Mustangs. Trailing 4-0 entering the sixth, Cal Poly notched its first run as junior designated player Anna Cahn grounded out with the bases loaded to plate starting righthander Rebecca Patton (8-6).

In the seventh, consecutive singles by junior catcher Stephanie Correia and freshman second baseman Shea Williams loaded the bases for sophomore pinch hitter Capri Ruiz, who scored sophomore third baseman Kendal Hennings with a single through the left side of the infield. Patton then greeted Holmes by producing a sacrifice fly to score sophomore pinch runner Nicole Lund. Senior Helen Peña followed by drawing a full-count walk to reload the bases, but Cary grounded a ball to Aggie Jessica Gonzalez, who promptly stepped on third base before throwing on to first baseman Sarah Axelson.

Patton, who tossed 68 percent of her 166 pitches for strikes, struck out four Aggies in game No. 1.

Highlighted with a two-run triple by shortstop Elizabeth Santana, UC Davis compiled all of the offense it needed during the nightcap with a four-run second inning.

Cal Poly’s offense lay dormant until the sixth, when freshman Dana Perez doubled to right center field to plate Lund. The Aggies, however, cemented a 7-1 advantage by scoring thrice in the top of the seventh. Cal Poly received a run-scoring double from Patton and an RBI-single by Cary during the bottom half of the inning, but fell well short.

Cary (above) and Perez finished with two hits apiece during game No. 2. Cahn (11-12) suffered the loss after surrendering the initial four UC Davis runs.

After dropping two games against Cal State Northridge during a May 1-2 three-game series, Saturday’s pair of losses marked just the second time under sixth-year head coach Jenny Condon that Cal Poly had dropped consecutive Big West series.